Podcast Category: By body part

Dr. Emily walks the path of bunions, plantar fasciitis, and other foot conditions through the lens of functional podiatry, She begins by explaining the importance of educating individuals about orthotics and the general foot types. Then, she explains how foot structure is not necessarily related to symptoms and whether or not your foot condition is genetic. By discussing the importance of spending more time barefoot and exposing the feet to different structures to optimize neurological feedback, she dives into how the nervous system manifests in the feet, how training function is beneficial, and the role emotions play in feet health. Let’s get your feet functional!

Welcome to Episode 181 of The Optimal Body Podcast  Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery & Recovery with Katie Goss Going through pelvic organ prolapse? Considering surgery? Thinking about pregnancy? Katie Goss takes us through her story

DocJen & Dr. Dom get real about their recent experience with miscarriage. Loss, pain, trauma, healing – they discuss it all. From start to finish, Jen dives into her how her symptoms progressed and how she advocated for herself through her experience in the hospital. From lack of communication to an overwhelming and unnecessary amount of tests that repeatedly confirmed the loos of her baby, DocJen and Dr. Dom provide insight into the operations behind the medical system, insurance, finance, and the lack of general humanization when approaching patients. With an overarching emphasis on asking better questions, they express their concerns with the lack of patient-doctor communication, treatment protocols, and navigating choices in addressing a miscarriage. As DocJen gets vulnerable with her physical and emotional traumas throughout the experience, Dr. Dom faces the anger and frustration with the repercussions of feeling helpless with hospital orders.

DocJen & Dr. Dom dive into the anatomy of what we know as the abs and how that differs from the true core. They provide insight into the transverse abdominal activation, how it may relate to back pain, and where belts for lifting should be considered. Furthermore, they discuss the importance of midline stability, providing cues and descriptions of their 3 favorite ab and core exercises.

Dr. Laura, doctor of physical therapy, preaches optimal foot functionality by spending time barefoot, but with safety and slow progression. As a gymnast, she spent much of her upbringing barefoot, however, with several foot fractures, she briefly speaks into how combining the use of the minimal shoe and conventional shoe can be beneficial in transitioning to going fully barefoot! She provides insight into why your feet may be in pain after wearing barefoot shoes, and how minimalist shoes differ from the conventional shoe. She speaks about movement diets and the importance of introducing variety and reflection in approaching movement and health! Let’s dive into the world of optimal foot health and physical therapy with Dr. Laura!

Tim Reynolds and Bryan Guzksi, physical therapists, take you from PT school to clinical practice as they hone in on how their curiosity drove their career path. Tim & Bryan share how physical therapy can support back pain and the best ways in which you can address your back pain as you navigate the world of physical therapists to find your optimal one. They discuss the importance of shifting language around the medical diagnosis and how language plays a role in instilling fear in patients. As psychology plays an immense role in pain perception, they provide their best tips to navigating the fear around back pain, how to set yourself up for success at your medical appointments.

DocJen & Dr. Dom debunk common myths surrounding the relationship between core exercises and back pain. Clarifying the possible roots of back pain, they explain the how the biopsychosocial model in relation to expectations, mindsets, and beliefs surrounding interventions and pain perception. Furthermore, they dive into the anatomy of the core and what it encompasses, how movement can inhibit pain, the perks of strength training for overall back health, and how to begin and progress core exercises to truly optimize integrity and coordination throughout the body.

Welcome to Episode 166 of The Optimal Body Podcast  Spinal Stenosis: Is it Normal and Are You Doomed? Been diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis? Fear loading the spine or moving around it? DocJen & Dr. Dom

We have Dr. Kelly Starrett back on the podcast to provide you an insightful rundown on his journey with his knee replacement journey, and how you can optimally navigate online education to optimize your health. With an overemphasis on the ways in which function drives purpose, Dr. Kelly speaks into the importance of education, honing in on finding independence within your own health. Then, Dr. Kelly walks the path of his knee journey, having pushed off knee replacement surgery for 7 years, and why he decided to eventually get surgery after years of training for function. Honing in on educating for function after surgery, Dr. Kelly debunks myths around icing and rest and provides the truth surrounding optimal rehabilitation.

DocJen & Dr. Dom provide insight into when you should address your high arches. They explain the importance of focusing on function, rather than structure. They describe the different types of high arches and their prevalence. Dr. Dom shares his journey with flat feet and how he is navigating function in his feet again, discussing the interaction between foot and ankle mobility. They provide their best tips and exercises for high arches, honing in on the conventional show may be doing more harm than good.